Death of an xbox 360

It was a frightening night last night. My husbands xbox blew. After just buying Call of Duty 4 and RockBand. Clearly this is NOT acceptable plus I am not so sure how tolerable he would be to live with without it. So, My mission as I have decided to accept it is to pick up a new one today.

On the "me" front, I weighed myself and not as bad as I thought. Yes still up from last year but I plan to weigh what I weighed last year bu 02/01/08 to start with Sully again. To prep for Presidential Cup.

Today I am taking the day off from the gym. I need to rest one day a week and today is it!

Not much to say

Just logging my workout

AM 30 minutes on the elliptical
PM 60 minutes on treadmill

Still working on getting food right on. but so much better than previous weeks!

Day 2

M1 protein shake/grapefruit
M2 egg whites/vegetables
M3 lasagna
M4 bacon cheeseburger
M5 curry chicken wrap

Think that is a lot to eat. No even close, each meal is on plan an balanced to fit my macros of the day. Going out for chinese food for one meal blows all 5 meals away. Here are my totals for the day with those 5 meals.
1302 calories
25 fat
144 carbs
127 protein

Workout planned 45 minutes of cardio at least once today.

EDIT: 33 minutes of cardio in the AM - 31 minutes of cardio in the PM
Light upperbody workout/chest/shoulders/lats

Today it begins

My more scheduled planned out food/training plan. Meals will be logged into Fitday, I will be cooking more and keeping with the traditional 40/40/20 BFL split. I kept debating if I should do the Sully cleanse but it kept making me have false starts and to go so hard core only a few weeks after a major surgery seems to be overkill. So at 38 weeks out I will stay positive, eat my macros and do a lot of cardio.

Although it's too much trouble to show my food in a spreadsheet format I will do it sometimes, as shown above.

The turkey lasagna from WW is pretty good. Richard hated it but it's good enough for 300 calories a portion and balanced macros. I will keep it in rotation. Tonight is cheddar bacon cheeseburgers with a light roll and more vegetables.

Workout
40 minutes bike
several light leg exercises.
Symptoms not too bad, some flickering nerves in legs and hands but overall completely tolerable and feet still feel great.

On a side note the fishing wire hanging from my neck is gone... wonder where it went!

Back to the gym

Getting my mind straight here, so today I went to the gym. 48 minutes on the treadmill at an average 5 incline. I plan to go daily and starting December twice daily. I may take a day off each week. Once I feel ready I will start with light weights again. My surgeon said it's a go but I want to get some of this surgery weight off me. My eye is on Presidential Cup and I want to make that show.

38 weeks out starts tomorrow.

3 week post op

Look closely the internal suture is hanging out at the end... it looks like fishing line, all I need is bait, a lure and I can catch myself a flounder.

Just got back from my 3 week post op. My hands are still numb, but there are times where I notice a nice difference. The problem is I am afraid of the unknown. If I was told this is it how you feel today will be it forever I can deal with that. I fear the changes that are for the worst... But worrying and fear is a waste of time and I need to remember that.

So on to the good news. I am allowed to drive a mile to the gym and do super light weights and as much cardio as I like. This means I can now go to the grocery store with Richard and get what I want... This is great news.

While keeping a symptom journal was helpful the first 3 weeks. I think at this point it will just keep me focusing on what isn't 100%. So instead of worrying and thinking about my hands all day I am going to ignore them. Like most people, you don't think about your hands all day... so why should I. If I have a little pain I will take some advil. It's time to focus on my future and not my past.

Black Friday 2007 and Happy thanksgiving!

Click here to see all the ads ahead of time!

On my way to the doctor... I love how smushed my face is... LOL and taking a second look it looks like I have a "dick nose" I really don't LOL!

Retro - Recipe - Deviled Crab Boules with Beurre Blanc

Deviled Crab Boules with Beurre Blanc
succulent crab and topped with a buttery wine sauce. Make-ahead tip: Prepare the bread shells and crab filling up to a day ahead of time. Just store the shells at room temperature in a zip-top plastic bag, and refrigerate the crab filling.

Boules:
2 (3-ounce) Kaiser rolls

Deviled crab:
1/4 cup finely chopped green onions, divided
1/4 cup dry white wine
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons light mayonnaise
1 tablespoon stone-ground mustard
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/8 teaspoon paprika
1/2 pound lump crabmeat, shell pieces removed

Beurre blanc:
1/3 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth, divided
1/4 cup finely chopped shallots
1/4 cup dry white wine
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Julienne-cut green onions (optional)

Preheat oven to 375°.

To prepare boules, hollow out each roll, leaving about a 1/4-inch-thick shell; reserve torn bread for another use. Place bread shells on a baking sheet. Bake at 375° for 5 minutes. Remove from oven; set aside.

To prepare deviled crab, combine 2 tablespoons chopped green onions, 1/4 cup wine, and garlic in a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer until reduced to 2 tablespoons (about 2 minutes). Remove from heat; stir in mayonnaise, mustard, red pepper, and paprika. Add 2 tablespoons chopped green onions and crab; toss gently to combine. Spoon crab mixture evenly into bread shells. Bake at 375° for 15 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

To prepare beurre blanc, combine 2 tablespoons broth, shallots, 1/4 cup wine, vinegar, and bay leaf in a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer until reduced to 1/4 cup (about 3 minutes). Drain through a fine sieve into a bowl, reserving liquid; discard solids.

Return wine mixture to pan. Combine remaining broth and cornstarch, stirring well with a whisk; stir into wine mixture. Bring to a boil; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; add butter, stirring until butter melts. Stir in juice and black pepper. Serve beurre blanc immediately over warm boules. Garnish with julienne-cut green onions, if desired.


Yield: 2 servings (serving size: 1 boule and about 1/4 cup sauce)

NUTRITION PER SERVING
CALORIES 415(29% from fat); FAT 13.4g (sat 4.6g,mono 4.4g,poly 1.7g); PROTEIN 34.5g; CHOLESTEROL 142mg; CALCIUM 135mg; SODIUM 1049mg; FIBER 3.4g; IRON 3.2mg; CARBOHYDRATE 34.3g

Looking ahead to 38 weeks out...

11/25 will start my new goals. This year has been so unpredictable but to keep myself sane. I will consider this date 38 weeks out from 2008 OCB Presidential Cup. It's going to be a tough goal knowing I can't even think about weight training until February (I am assuming) and when that is approved it's going to be pretty pathetically light weights. But there is nothing I would ever risk, to put me back to where I am now, ever. One good thing about figure competition as a goal is that all you do is eat healthy and do some weight training. But the diet can begin on 11/25 and by then I am almost positive I am going to be asked to start cardio. After being approved to be in the car for a mile or so ( my gym is only a mile away) then I can start to drop weight for my goal.

Other OCB possibilities for the year:
2008 Charm City Classic
2008 Yorton Cup

And there is USBF Pro-AM. But we'll see, whatever happens will happen. No matter what I can start to prepare and see where it takes me.

Once 11/25 hits, I will start posting meals and any possible activity I am allowed. Soon progress pictures will follow. A great place to find meals and great fitness advice is Renee or Skwigg.

It doesn't get much cuter than this. Two of my dogs together... not the best quality since it was taken with my phone.

Cervical Fusion images while healing

11 days post... neck is totally irratated and peeling. how effing gross!!!

Celebrity Bankruptcy and Turkey

Well I don't have much to say but I felt like updating anyway 11 days post surgery, am I getting "better"? It's so hard to tell I analyze every little detail all day long. I realize nerves and nerve damage take a long time to heal but it's so frustrating. I do my best to not think about it. But it's not easy.
edit * After reading this I have to realize so many people are so much worse off than me, so I need to pull it together!
One thing I can confirm when I lay down my hands are not as painful or as asleep as they were. Sitting is still my trouble spot, especially sitting here at the computer. But what else am I to do during the day? I can't clean, cook, train, work or anything else for that matter. I just lay around waiting...

Thanksgiving is coming and I miss cooking. I am still having family over but I am only going to make ( embarrassed to say) Rachel Ray's Pistachio Encrusted Turkey Breast, (see below) I won't do it alone, Richard will help but at least I feel like I am doing something. Doing nothing is just depressing.

Moving on, I have to say out of all the MTV shows out there. I hate the show CRIBS. In no way am I jealous, I wouldn't want all that, gold toilet seats, 18 cars, 35 foot ceilings. It makes me laugh. It's just not important. Health is all that is important... Don't get me wrong, financial security, being able to go on vacations is what I want from my life. But I have no interest in peeing in 24 karat gold. And don't be confused, so much of that is show. They are in debt up to their asses, but they want you to think they aren't. IE MC Hammer.

Here are more celebrities to look up to: BANKRUPT CELEBRITIES
Some people/celebrities have legitimate money issues, but when they spend their money as if they are going to be famous forever, well that is where the trouble begins.

Now for the fun part here is the Pistachio Encrusted Turkey Breast

8 days post surgery...

Yesterday my hands were pretty bad, today so far, not as bad. Still keeping my symptom chart current. It's interesting to see how things change day to day. I recently bought the ipod nano. Not the newest one but the pink skinny one. I only used it once or twice. Had back issues and wasn't able to go to the gym again. Anyway, tried to charge it last night and dead. But here's the good news. I bought the 3 year warranty through Target. Guess what they gave me THIS instead! Freaking awesome!! I am now transferring all my songs to it now and getting ready for when I can walk on the treadmill. I really can't wait!!!

A side note my collar really makes me sweat! My neck is getting so freaking irritated under there. Disgusting

John Basedow - Fitness made Simple

Is it me or is this guy the biggest tool in America? Have any of you seen the commercials with him weight training in people's trailors? And the crowd of girls where one screams "He's so Hot!" LMAO

Here's a plug for him just in case you are curious and need to see the range of his talents.
FITNESS MADE SIMPLE

Interactive video of my fusion

FUSION

weight

I find it interesting that I weighed the same amount last year at this time. I love using fitday because it gives you the opportunity to track your food and weight for years and years. If you are serious about fitness, food and your weight it's an invaluable tool. Although home I plan to lose these 15 lbs I've gained back by 01/01/08. Totally doable even without movement. I always found it funny when people blamed weight gain on lack of "time" to work out. Sure.... when 80% of it is diet, go ahead and try to blame your poor time management skills or laziness.

Recovery

Day 4.. I won't bore you with all the assorted symptoms as I have an excel spreadsheet to track them I may eventually post. But I am noticing hands are always worse when online even compared to sleeping. But my hands still change often so it's hard to track. I haven't purchased anything while home. After many sleepless nights and much infomercial brainwashing I ordered THIS, Sheer Cover

I hope I'm not sorry. It was 29.00 for the entire kit so it didn't break the bank but still wasting money isn't an option at this point.

I spoke with my boss today who just got me approved for working from home which is FANTASTIC. I am so excited!!! I hope early December through early February then I can return to work like a normal person.

I am sweating like a bitch in this collar, this is one of the hardest parts. I am constantly adjusting it but I can't take it off. Very frustrating to say the least.

Going nuts

Only 3 days post surgery and I am going out of my freaking mind. I can't do anything and of course my hands are still numb on and off. Still I notice a difference for the better depending on the position I am in, which is good. Sleeping in this collar is a nightmare. ARGH!

One day post surgery

I'm back. It's been a little over 24 hours post surgery and I am quite surprised how well I am doing. I have no need for pain meds at all. I filled the prescription just in case. The hospital room was nice and big and I had it all to myself. I even had a flat screen TV. Nice menu to order whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted as well. Although my mouth is only able to open the size of mailbox slot.
So my husband had to cut my fruit up into little pieces so I could shove it in there. My food plan is instant mashed potatoes/oatmeal/jello and protein shakes. He is home with me for the next week so he can make all of this for me during the day. Even though I feel decent I am certainly not going to overdo it in any capacity.

Symptoms:
Right hand has some relief
Left hand some relief but less than right hand
Legs are not numb but that stopped a week ago. The main symptoms I had going into surgery was vertigo, headaches and hand numbness. I have trouble swallowing, talking and my throat is sore, as well as the incision. But not much more to report.